FBD Semple Stadium is the home of hurling and Gaelic football[2] for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. Located in Thurles, County Tipperary, it is the second largest GAA stadium in Ireland (after Croke Park), with a capacity of 45,690 and named after Tom Semple, the captain of the Thurles "Blues". He won All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1900, 1906 and 1908.[1]
The stadium is the leading venue for Munster hurling followers, having hosted the Munster Hurling Final on many memorable occasions.
Facilities
Semple Stadium, exterior south side
The main or 'Old Stand' of the ground (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Coinneáin' or 'Dr Kinane Stand' named after Jeremiah Kinane) lies across from the 'New Stand' (also known as the 'Ardán Ó Riáin') both of which are covered. Behind the goals are two uncovered terraces known as the 'Town End' (also known as the 'Davin Terrace') and the 'Killinan End' (also known as the 'Maher Terrace') respectively.[3]
Currently the stadium has a capacity of 45,690 of which 24,000 are seated.
The Dome
The sports hall accommodates a full-sized basketball court suitable for national standard competition. The hall is also lined for badminton, volleyball, and indoor soccer. It is used in the evenings and weekends by the Tipperary hurling and football teams for training and on match days, the building is used to accommodate GAA and sponsor guests for corporate lunches and functions. It has also been used as a music venue.
Proposed development
In July 2018 Tipperary County Board prepared to submit plans to Tipperary County Council to see the Kinane stand redeveloped into a multi-purpose facility.
The proposal would see the "Old Stand" as it is known to many, have a second level created over the concourse at the back of the stand. The half nearest the Killinan End terrace will be dedicated to players and will include a full-sized gym, physio room, stats/analysis room plus changing rooms and toilet facilities. The other half, towards the Sarsfields Centre side, would include a function room to accommodate up to 250 people, with adjoining bar and kitchen facility for catering. The development will also include a new corridor leading to a new VIP enclosure area in the Kinnane stand. The estimated cost of the project is €5 million.[4]
The planning application for the development was lodged with Tipperary County Council in April 2019. The planning application included reconfiguration of the seating area and modifications to the ground floor, including turnstiles, the construction of a new exit gate, and three service cores providing access to upper floor levels, which would include wheelchair-accessible turnstiles. Wilson Architecture in Cork was commissioned to help put together the planning application.[5] Planning permission was granted in April 2020.[6]
History
Semple Stadium, north-east corner
The grounds on which Semple Stadium is built were formerly known as Thurles Sportsfield. The site was offered for sale in 1910 at the wish of Canon M.K. Ryan and was purchased by local Gaelic games enthusiasts for £900. To meet the cost of the purchase, an issue of shares was subscribed by the townspeople. The grounds remained in the hands of the shareholders until 1956 when they were transferred to the Gaelic Athletic Association.
In 1934 in anticipation of the All-Ireland Hurling Final being held in the grounds to mark the golden jubilee of the Association, extensive improvements were made to bring the field requirements up to the demands which a crowd of up to 60,000 would make. The embankments around the field were raised and extended and the stand accommodation was also extended. However, the jubilee final was held in Croke Park and it was another 50 years before the stadium would host the All-Ireland final as a showpiece to mark the centenary.[citation needed]
In 1968 further developments took place when the Dr. Kinane Stand was completed and opened. In 1971 the stadium was named after Tom Semple, who was captain of the Thurles "Blues". He won All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals in 1900, 1906 and 1908. The Ardán Ó Riáin opposite the Kinane Stand and the terracing at the town end of the field were completed in 1981 at a cost of £500,000. This development and the terracing at the Killinan end of the field were part of a major improvement scheme for the celebration of the centenary All-Ireland Hurling Final between Cork and Offaly in 1984.
In April 2006 Tipperary County Board announced an €18 million redevelopment plan for the Stadium. The three-year project aimed to boost capacity to over 55,000, as well as providing a wide range of modern facilities such as corporate space concessions, dining and changing areas within both main stands. There were also plans to upgrade the standing terraces and install a modern floodlighting facility.[8] Phase one of the upgrade project, upgrading the Kinnane Stand side of the stadium, involved expenditure of €5.5 million.
An architectural consultancy has been[when?] appointed to lead a design team, tasked with preparing a master plan for the redevelopment of Semple Stadium.[citation needed]
The Féile Classical Concerts took place at Semple Stadium in September 2018. Line up included Irish musical acts that played in the 1990s at the Féile festivals.[15] Named as Tipp Classical, it will return in September 2019.[16]
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Tipperary GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tipperary and the Tipperary county teams.
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 1984 was the 98th series of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, Ireland's premier hurling knock-out competition. Cork won the championship, beating Offaly 3–16 to 1–12 in the centenary year final at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
Thomas Semple was an Irish hurler who played as a half-forward for the Tipperary senior team.
The 1987 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 101st staging of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county hurling tournament. The championship began on 24 May 1987 and ended on 6 September 1987.
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tipperary and the Tipperary county teams.
The 2011 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was the 123rd staging of the All-Ireland championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1887. The draw for the 2011 fixtures took place on 7 October 2010. The championship began on 14 May and ended on 4 September 2011. Tipperary were the defending champions.
The 2013 season was Eamon O'Shea's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. On 25 September 2012, he succeeded Declan Ryan as manager. A panel of 26 players was announced in December 2012 to prepare for the Allianz Hurling League. In February Shane McGrath was appointed as captain for the 2013 season.
The Tipperary–Clare rivalry is a hurling rivalry between Irish county teams Tipperary and Clare.
The 2015 Munster Senior Hurling Championship final was a hurling match which was played on 12 July 2015 at Semple Stadium, Thurles. The winners would advance to the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, with the loser going into the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Tipperary and Waterford contested the final, with Tipperary winning the title on a 0-21 to 0-16 scoreline. The win was Tipperary's 41st Munster Senior title and first since 2012.
The 2016 season was Michael Ryan's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team.
The 2019 season was Liam Sheedy's first year in charge since returning as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been previously in charge from 2008 to 2010.
The 1991 Munster Senior Hurling Championship final was a hurling match played on 7 July 1991 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. It was contested by Cork and Tipperary.
The 2020 season was Liam Sheedy's second year in charge since returning as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been previously in charge from 2008 to 2010.
Dillon Quirke was an Irish hurler who played for Tipperary Senior Championship club Clonoulty–Rossmore and at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team.
This article contains the results of the Tipperary county hurling team in the Championship during the 2020s.
The 2022 season was Colm Bonnar's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been appointed on 8 September 2021 for three years. Liam Sheedy had stepped down in August 2021 as manager after three years in charge.
The 2023 season was Liam Cahill's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been appointed on 18 July 2022 on a three year term.
The 2024 season was Liam Cahill's second year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team.
↑ "2001: A Semple Odyssey for Dublin and Kerry". RTÉ Sport. 3 May 2020. The draw that year had a major headline act as the reigning All-Ireland champions, Kerry, were drawn to face Dublin. That was just as well because the rest of the draw threw up three games we had seen already. Roscommon and Galway; Derry and Tyrone; Meath and Westmeath. They had already played each other in their respective provinces... The fact that this game was being played in at Semple Stadium added a huge novelty factor to the serious business of Dublin against Kerry.
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